The special stamp is based on the national first-class cultural relic Prosperous Suzhou. [Photo/WeChat account: suzhoufabu365]
A set of six special stamps based on the national first-class cultural relic Prosperous Suzhou were recently issued, local media outlets reported.
Each stamp has a width of 80 millimeters, the widest in the past decade, so as to fully display the subtleties and grandeur of the ancient painting.
Prosperous Suzhou, originally entitled Burgeoning Life in a Resplendent Age, is a 12-meter-long scroll painting created by court painter Xu Yang in 1759, aiming to pay homage to the peaceful and prosperous reign of Emperor Qianlong of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
The hand scroll, which is intended to be viewed by being laid flat and unrolled from the right end, invites viewers on an immersive and continuous journey through the urban landscapes and everyday life of Suzhou in an area covering several dozen miles.
The middle section of the scroll depicts an idealization of bustling downtown Suzhou, as viewers can see numerous merchants, traders, barges, and passenger boats, as well as dense rows of shops and vendors. More than 4,800 human figures, 2,000 architectural structures, and 400 boats can be seen.
The full set of the Prosperous Suzhou special stamps is valued at 7.40 yuan ($1.1), and a total of 7.3 million sets will be issued. A long roll of stamps will also be issued with a planned 200,000 copies.
